Water-heating apparatus



A. M. MERTZANOFF' WATER HEAT ING APPARATUS April 23, 1929.

Filed July 19, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ""f"# '14.; A TTORNEY April 23, 1929. A. M. MERTZANOFF WATER HEATING APPARATUS Filed July 19, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet fliqr lN VENTOR M 9% A TTORNE Y April 23, 1929. A. M. MERTZANOFF 1,710,655

WATER HEATING APPARATUS I Filed July 19, 1926 r s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

UNITED. STATES,

1,710,665 PATENT OFFICE.

ANDBEJI. III'IBZIZAIN'OIEF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TO AKEBICAN RADIATOR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION, 01! NEW JERSEY.

warm-HEATING arraaa'rus.

Application filed July 19,

My invention relates to improvements in heating means for hot water supply tanks, and the same has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive and etficient apparatus 5 for providing a constant supply of hot water.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified which is compact in construction, neat in appearance, and capable of producing the maximum quantity of hot water with the minimum consumption of fuel.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specied comprising essentially a receptacle to receive the water to be heated, and a heating member disposed transversely of said receptacle adjacent to the lower end thereof.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character 2 specified comprising a receptacle to receive the water to be heated, and a fuel reaaptac'le disposed therein with its ends supported by the walls of said rece tacle, and its intermediate wall portions ree from the walls of said first-named receptacle to permit of the due circulation of the water.

Further, said invention has for its object toprovide an apparatus of the character specified comprising a receptacle for the water to be heated, and a fuel receptacle extending transversely through said firstnamed rece tacle and having its ends extend ing throng opposite wall portions thereof and secured thereto in fluid-tight relation.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified comprising a receptacle ada ted 'to receive the water to be heated, and a uel receptacle formed as an integral or unitary structure extending transversly through said first named receptacle and secured at its opposite ends, exteriorly of said first named receptacle, to the walls thereof.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which the heating'member or element is so constructed and so arranged and secured Within the water containing receptacle that the greatest possible outer surface of said heating member or element will be exposed to, and be in direct contact with the water to be heated. I

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified inwhich the wall portions of the air serving as an insulating medium for main- 1926. Serial m 123,265

fuel receptacle are of such form and contour that the water, as it becomes heated and foliows its natural course, will be caused to impinge upon or contact closely with said wall portions in its passage through the apparatus.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus" of the character specified in which the water receiving recep-. tacle or'tank. is divided into a plurality of communicating compartments of relatively different capacities, and a fuel receptacle disposed within the compartment containing the smaller volume of water whereby to insure the rapid and eflicient heating of the water 9 and to accelerate the circulation thereof.

subject to corrosion and leakage.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which the water containing receptacle or tank is surrounded by a acket dis osed in spaced relation thereto and confining etween the same and said receptacle :1. layer of dead taining the exterior of the apparatus cool, and for conserving the heat generated therein for the purpose of heating the water.

Further, saidinve'ntion has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which the heat emitting'element is formed as a unitary element having its'wall portionscurved to follow the normal direction of the flow of the heated water.

Other objects will in part be obvious, and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends my invention consists in the novel features of construction, and in the combination, connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification,

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one form of hot water supply heater constructed according to, and embodying my said inven- 510 stantia 1y coextensive in area with that of tion;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a central section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a central section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 55 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a front elevation partly in section of the fire pot and grate taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

In said drawings 10' designates the apparatus as a whole comprising a cylindrical receptacle or tank 11 having a raised, concave bottom 12,-a convex top 13, and an intermediate transverse partition or diaphragm 13 which serves to divide the interior of said receptacle into upper and lower compartments or chambers 11*, 11 The said .receptacle 11 is provided at its top with a hot water outlet 14, and at its side, adjacent to the lower end thereof, with a cold water supply inlet 14".

Within the lower compartment 116 of the receptacle or tank 11 is disposed the heating member or element comprising a relatively smaller container 15 constituting the fuel receptacle, combustion chamber and ash it. p The said fuel receptacle 15 is oval or elliptical in form, and preferably constructed of one piece of material or integrally, of drawn sheet steel. 7

The fuel receptacle 15 has at its front end a sin le opening 16 which serves as the fuel su ply and ash pit openings, and is subsaid fuel receptacle. The fuel receptacle 15 is provided at its rear end with projecting tubular portions forming a smoke outlet 17, and a fresh air-inlet 18 through which is admitted the primary air necessary to support combustion. 1

The receptacle 11 is provided in its front with a large opening 19 for receiving the front end of the fuel receptacle 15, and at its rear with smaller openings 20 and 21 for receiving the tubular portions 17 and 18 of the fuel receptacle. The fuel receptacle 15 extends transversely of the receptacle 11,

and is directly supported in said openings by the opposite wallportions of the receptacle 11.. The opposite ends of the fuel receptacle-15 project beyond the wall portions of the receptacle 11, and are secured adjacent to their ends along the edges of the several openings 19, 20, 21 by welding or otherwise to form fluid-tight joints. Preferably, the front end of the fuel receptacle 15, as indicated at 22, and the tubular portion 17, as indicated at 23, are expanded in order tofurtions 27 forming a hoppcrto receive the fuel,

and engaging thewalls of the fuel receptacle to support the frame 24 in position therein the rear portions of the frame 24 being free to permit of movement thereof relative to the fuel receptacle to allow for expansion. The grate bars 28 are supported at their ends in the bearings 29 formed in the grate frame 24. A trunnion plate 30 securcd to the front end of the frame 24 by the bolts 31 serves to removably retain the front ends ofthe grate bars 28 in position upon said frame 24. The plate 30 is provided with a forwardly. projecting portion or flange portion 32 adapted to extend between a cooperating pair of flanges 32 upon the inner side of the door 48'for controlling the fuel opening 16, whereby to-form a barrier between the fuel support and the ash pit. The reduced forwardly projecting ends of the grate bars 28 are interconnected by suit-, able gearing 34, and one of said ends is provided with a polygonal portion 34 to be engaged by an operating handle.

In order to render it possible to obtain a maximum fuel capacity and maintain a deep bed of fuel upon the grate,-a grill or louvre 'frame 33 is removably supported between the vertically extending side portions 24, and comprises side members 33 united by inclined transverse members 33". The side members 33 are provided adjacent to their upper ends with sockets 33, and adjacent to their lower ends withstuds 33", adapted to engage, respectively, with the studs 33 and Ill) the sockets 33 provided upon each of'thc adjacent side portions 24. An ash, pan 35' is disposed below the grate for receiving the ashes.

An annular base member 36, having a resembly thereof, is preferably formed in two vertical parts or sections, viz: a front section 37 having an opening therein to receive the projecting portion 25 of the fuel receptacle 15, and a rear section 37' having openings therein to receive the constricted rear portions 17 and 18 of said fuel receptacle 15. The sections 37 and 37", when assembled, overlap at the opposite sides of the heater and are secured together by suitable fastening de vices 40. The lower edge of the jacket 37 rests on the base ring 36, which serves to space the same uniformly relative to the receptacle 11, and to seal the lower end of the space in which the dead air is confined. The upper end of the jacket 37 includes a cover 41 whereby the receptacle 11 is completely enclosed.

Disposed around the combined fuel and ash-pit opening 16 is the door frame 42,co1nprising a flared intermediate portion 43 adapted to be disposed around the projecting portion 25 of the fuel receptacle 15, and an inner portion 44 conforming closely in contour to the cylindrical surface of the jacket 37. The outer portion 45 of said door frame is of reduced cross section, and has an inner rib or edge 46 thereon in engagement with the entire outer edge of the fuel receptacle 15. The frame 42 is secured to the projecting portion 25 of the fuel receptacle by bolts 47 or the like. A door 48 is hinged upon the frame 42 for closing the combined fuel and ash pit opening 16. The contacting edges 49 of the door 48 and frame. 42 are preferably ground so that when said door is closed, a gas tight closure is provided, and cleanliness in operation is insured. The door 48 is provided with an air inlet opening 48 controlled by the rotatable closure 48 adapted to be moved in and out to control the amount of air permitted to enter the opening 48 in order to check the rate of combustion. WVhen the door 48 is closed, the flanges 32, 32 cooperate to prevent any appreciable amount of air,

which passes through the opening 48, from entering the ash pit.

To accelerate the circulation of water within the receptacle 15, and the compartments 11, 11*, in the lower of which the 'fuel receptacle and combustion chamber 15 is disposed and surrounded by the water therein, the diaphragm 13 is provided with a central intake opening in which is secured the lower end of a vertical flow pipe 54 whose upper or outlet end communicates with the upper central portion-of the crunpartm ent 11*. A second pipe 56 for the return of the relatively cooler water is arranged in the lower compartment 11 in close proximity to wall thereof. The upper or intake end of said pipe 56 is secured to the diaphragm 13 and communicates with the lower portion of the upper compartment 11". and the lower or outlet end of said pipe 56 terminates adjacent to the base of said lower compartment, and at a point below the fuelpartment 11 descends through the pipe 56 into the lower part of the compartment 11". The diaphragm 13 serves to direct the more highly heated water to and through the pipe 54, and permits of the unimpeded descent of the cooler water through the pipe 56.

' The space between the curved wall portions of the heating element or fuel receptacle 15 and the adjacent wall portions of the receptacle 11 provide passages 59 for the water to be heated. The wall portions of the fuel receptacle 15 adjacent to, or directly above the lower portions of said passages 59 are nearest to the walls of the receptacle or tank 1.1, and then curve gradually inwardly toward the top of said heating element 15 where the same merge, and at which oint it is hottest. By this construction an arrangement of parts each passage 59 has a wide lower or entrance portion 60, a constricted intermediate portion 61, and a relatively wide or flaring upper or exit portion 62. The water will thus be slightly entering the wide lower or entrance portion 60, and become progressively heated and expanded, and its rate of flow correspondingly increased as it successively pa sses' through the constructed intermediate portion 61 and upper outlet portion 62 by its contact with and closely following the curved wall portions of said fuel receptacle 15, and finally pass in highly heated state into and through the pipe 54, and be discharged into. the upper portion of the upper compartment or chamber 11.

The fuel receptacle 15 is preferably elliptical in cross SGCLlOl'l to cause the water, in followheated and expanded upon ing its natural or normal course towards the central inlet 53 in the diaphragm 13 to impinge upon or contact closely with the wall portions of said fuel receptacle.

The receptacle 11 is provided between the smoke outlet 17 and the draft inlet 18 with an opening in which is secured a thermostatic elemcnt 63 whose inner end extends into the water in the receptacle 11. A spring controlled lever 64, pivotally supported at its upper end in bearings 65. provided upon the element 63 is operatively associated at its up per end with said thermostatic element, and at its lower end-carries a flat circular plate 66 adapted to seat upon the outer end of the tubular portion 18 whereby automatically to control the supply of fresh air entering the ash pit through said tubular portion 18.

The receptablc or tank 11 may be provided at a suitable point near the bottom with a drawofl cock or drain 67. The operation of the apparatus will be largely obvious from the foregoing description. It is merely to be noted that when the apparatus is in operation the door 48 is tightly closed, and that the entire supply of air neecessary to support the combustion of the fuel is admitted below the grate through the fresh air supply opening 18, and that the volume of air admitted is automatically controlled by the damper plate 66 which is operated by the thermostatic element 63, in response to temperature variations of the water in the receptacle 11. In operation the thermostatic element 63 and damper plate 66 will supply the air necessary to support the combustion of the fuel at such rate as may be necessary to maintain the water, under normal operating conditions, uniformly heated to the temperature desired.

Further, it is to be noted that by means of the construction of the apparatus according to my said invention, the door for the fuel receptacle and the supporting frame therefor are secured in position upon the projecting portion of said fuel receptaclewholly without the water containing receptacle thereby rendering it unnecessary to perforate or drill any part of the fuel receptacle exposed to waterin order to provide for the reception of boltsor rivets, and as a result all possibility of water accidently entering said fuel receptacle and extinguishing the fire is eliminated.

Further, it is to be noted that as the fuel a receptacle is substantially wholly surrounded 35 overheated or burned out is prevented.

by water, all danger of the same becoming Further, it is to be noted that as the grate and its associated parts are positively secured only at their forward ends to the fuel receptacle, the same are capable of expansion and contraction therein, in response to temperature variations, without danger of straining or irijuring any of said parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire'to secure by Letters Patent is: i I

- 1. An apparatus of the character described comprising areceptaclc adapted to receive water to be heated, and an integrallyformed elliptical fuel receptacle having an opening at one end thereof common to the fuel receiving portion and ash-pit, and tubular portions at the opposite end thereof providing draft and air supply openings; said fuel receptacle being surrounded by the water in said'first-named receptacle and extending transversely of said first-named receptacle through opposite wall portions thereof, and secured thereto in fluid-tight relation, substantially as specified.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle adapted to receivc'water to be heated, a partition disposed transversely within said receptacle dividing said receptacle into upper and lower compartment above said heating element therein and its outlet end adjacent to the upper end of said upper compartment, and a conduit extending through said partition adjacent to the wall of said receptacle and having its intake end disposed adjacent to'said partition and its outlet and disposed in said lower compartment and terminating below heating element, substantially as speci- 3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle adapted to receive water to be heated, a partition disposed transversely within said receptacle dividing said receptacle into upper and lower compartments, a heating elementdisposed within the lower of said compartments and surrounded by the water therein, a vertical conduit disposed centrally within said receptacle and communicating at its opposite ends with the upper portion of each of said compartments, and a vertical conduit disposed within saidreceptacle in proximity to the wall thereof and communicating at its apposite ends with the lower portion of each of sa1d compartments, substantially as specified.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a receptacle adapted to receive water to be heated, a partition disposed transversely within said receptacle dividing said receptacle into upper and lower compartments; said partition having a central opening therein, a fuel receptacle disposed in the lower of said compartments and surrounded by the water therein; said fuel receptacle having curved wall portions forming with the adjacent-wall portions of said first-named receptacle vertically extending passages having constricted intermediate portions and relatively wide upper and lower portions,

and a return conduit extending through said partition in proximity to the wall of said first-named receptacle and having its intake end arranged in the upper compartment and its outlet end arranged in said lower compartmcnt below the base of said fuel receptacle, substantially as specified.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a cylindrical receptacle adapted to receive water to be heated, a partition disposed transversely within said receptacle dividing said receptacle into upper and lower compartments, an integrally-formed, elliptical fuel receptacle disposed transversely within said lower compartment, and projecting through the opposite wall portions of said first-named receptacle and secured thereto in fluid-tight relation; theadjacent wall portions of said fuel receptacle and of said first-named receptacle providing thereportions and relatively wide up or and lower portions, 9. vertical conduit isposed cen- 5 trally within said first-named receptacle having its intake end arranged in said lower compartments above saidfuel receptacle and its outlet end arranged adjacent to the to of said upper compartment, and a vertica conduit disposed in said first-named receptacle in proximity to the wall thereof and having its intake end arranged in the lower portion of said upper com artment and its outlet end arran ed' in sai lower compartment below said uel receptacle, substantially as specified. I a

6. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a receptacle adapted to receive water to be heated, a fuel receptacle disposed transversely within said first-named receptacle and having an open front end projecting outwardly from said first-named re-. ceptac e and a closed rear end, tubular portions extendin from said closed end and through said irst-named receptacle; one of said tubular portions communicating with the combustion chamber and serving as a smoke outlet, and the other of said tubular portions communicating with said fuel re'ceptacle below the grate and serving as a fresh air inlet, and a'se arate fuel supporting themsed wit in said fuel receptacle and 7. An apparatus of the character 'described, comprising a receptacle adapted to receive water to be heated, a fuel receptacle disposed transversely within said first-named receptacle and having an open front end projectingoutwardly from said first-named receptacle and a closed rear end, integral tubular portions arranged one above the other and extending outwardly from said closedend and through said first-named receptacle; the upper of said tubular portions of said closed end communicating with the combustion chamber and serving as a smoke outlet, and the lower of said tubular portions communicating with said fuel receptacle below the grate and serving as a fresh air inlet, and a separate fuel supporting member disposed within said fuel receptacle and secured to the projecting portion thereof, substantially as specified.

Signed at the city of New York, in the count and State of New York, this 13th day of .ay, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-six. v

ANDRE M. MEBTZANOFFQ 

